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Antoin "Tony"
Rezko is one of Governor Blagojevich's top fundraisers, a
family friend and apparently a resource for state jobs and
appointments. The
Chicago Tribune
reported last week that, according to public records,
Rezko associates have received over a dozen state positions as
employees or appointees to statewide commissions. Records indicate that
Rezko associates landed positions with Central Management
Services, Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and
the board that oversees hospital construction and
expansion.
Rezko admits to
helping raise $500,000 for Blagojevich's '02 campaign and the
administration says that they did reach out to supporters for
assistance in hiring decisions. "Naturally, we reached
out to supporters and other like-minded people, like Mr.
Rezko, for recommendations and as a result we've been very
fortunate to get some of these people," said Abby Ottenhoff,
spokesperson for Blagojevich. |
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 Democratic Treasurer nominee Alexi
Giannoulias is, again, under the campaign microscope relative
to loans approved by Giannoulias and his family's business,
Broadway Bank. In court papers filed
last week, Broadway Bank is being asked to forgive a $1
million loan to an elderly woman. The suit indicates
that the woman was conned by three Ukrainian businessmen into
seeking the million dollar loan and should not be held
responsible.
The three
Ukrainians have a history of questionable and failed business
dealings and have been accused of fraud. The suit indicates
that the elderly woman was mentally impaired when she sought
the $1 million and was easily duped. Giannoulias' campaign
said that the charges are groundless. This is the second
time during his campaign that the lending practices of
Giannoulias' bank have been brought into focus. Earlier, questions
arose about loans to figures reportedly tied to the mob.
Giannoulias is running against State Senator Christine
Radogno. |
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 The jockeying continued in earnest last
week as the Cook County Board continued to publicly consider
how to respectfully transition to new leadership given
President Stroger's debilitating stroke. A host of names have
risen in recent weeks as possible successors and last week,
Commissioner John Daley, Mayor Daley's brother, indicated that
he would be willing to serve as interim president until the
November election.
Daley said that he believes that the Democratic
presidential nominee should be African-American. "I
would not be the nominee under any circumstance," Daley
said.
State law is
silent on transferring authority of the executive other than
the fact that the county board selects a replacement. The health crisis has
exposed divisions in the African-American political class of
Cook County. Stroger represents
Southside African-Americans while Commissioner Bobbie Steele,
a possible successor, and Cong. Danny Davis represent the
Westside.
Stroger's family has indicated that they will make a
decision by July regarding President Stroger's further
political career. |
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 Last week, motorcyclists joined opponents to the
Blagojevich administration's move to raid dedicated funds for
general fund purposes. ABATE of Illinois, having been tipped off by
State Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka's office, asked a Sangamon
County
judge to stop Blagojevich from transferring money from a
special fund earmarked for motorcycle safety and training
courses. ABATE
sought to prevent all fund transfers totaling about $90
million to the state's general fund. Sangamon County Judge Leo Zappa did bar
the transfer of $344,000 in motorcycle money but found that
ABATE did not have standing to prevent all of the
transfers. The
temporary restraining order on the fund transfer runs until
July 10/
This isn't the
first time the administration's desire to sweep "surplus"
money from dedicated funds has been challenged in court. The Illinois Chamber sued
the administration over its attempt to divert money from the
Road Fund and two years ago, Illinois credit unions were
successful in preventing funds dedicated for regulatory
activities from being swept into the general fund. A number of other
statewide groups have questioned the sweeps and are now
considering legal steps. |
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 Late last week, the Illinois Civil
Justice League filed a complaint against St. Clair County
Circuit Court Judge Lloyd Cueto for acting as Chairman and
Treasurer of his re-election committee. The compliant, filed
with the Illinois Judicial Inquiry Board, indicates that
judicial rules bar a judge from soliciting or accepting
campaign donations and as treasurer, Cueto would be receiving
such contributions. According to the ICJL,
no other judicial candidate seeking office is listed as the
treasurer of his or her own campaign. PI reported earlier
this year that Judge Cueto chose to seek re-election rather
than retention because of the lower threshold needed to hold
the judgeship.
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"THE
ISSUE:
U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. launches a media campaign to
pressure Gov. Rod Blagojevich on a south suburban
airport.
WE SAY: While we understand Jackson's strategy, yard
signs and phone calls won't be enough to force Blagojevich's
hand.
U.S.
Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. is putting money where his mouth is:
Through his Abraham Lincoln National Airport Commission, he
solicited contributions from south suburban communities to pay
for a public relations campaign aimed at Gov. Rod
Blagojevich." Read
the whole thing...
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